A child during the Referendariat (the preparatory service for lawyers and teachers in Germany) changes your planning considerably. Several benefits are involved: the family allowance added to your pay (Familienzuschlag), child benefit (Kindergeld), parental allowance (Elterngeld), parental leave and the question of how the family is insured. Because these come from different offices, it is easy to lose track. This guide sorts the benefits and names who is responsible for each.
Short answer: The family allowance is paid by the pay office of your state under state law. Child benefit amounts to 259 euros per child per month in 2026. Parental allowance ranges from at least 300 to at most 1,800 euros per month. Parental leave is possible until the child turns three. Last updated: October 2026, check the figures for the relevant year.
The most important points in brief
- The family allowance and trainee pay are governed by the pay law of your state. Ask your pay office about the entitlement for your child.
- Child benefit amounts to 259 euros per child per month in 2026. Who pays it depends on your employer, so clarify this early.
- Parental allowance depends on your income before the birth and ranges from 300 to 1,800 euros per month.
- Parental leave is possible until the child turns three. Rules for extending the preparatory service are set by each state.
- Family health cover depends on whether you are entitled to Beihilfe and whether you are privately or statutorily insured.
Which benefits do you receive with a child?
Several benefits run alongside each other and come from different offices. The table shows who is responsible and which status applies.
| Benefit | Responsible office | Amount and status |
|---|---|---|
| Family allowance (Familienzuschlag) | Pay office of your state, in North Rhine-Westphalia the LBV | Set by state law. Ask the office for the amount. |
| Child benefit (Kindergeld) | Family benefit office or the office of your employer | 259 euros per child per month (2026, section 66 EStG) |
| Parental allowance (Elterngeld) | Parental allowance office | At least 300 euros, at most 1,800 euros per month (section 2 BEEG) |
| Beihilfe for the family | Beihilfe office of your employer | Rate set by state, often higher with a child, see table below |
The family allowance is part of your pay, while child benefit is a separate benefit. You apply for them at different offices, and both should be clarified early.
A worked example shows the scale of child benefit. Assumption: one child, 259 euros per month. That is 3,108 euros per year. For 2027, the government draft of the income tax reform envisages 267 euros per month, which would be 3,204 euros per year. The draft has not yet been adopted.
How does parental leave work during the preparatory service?
You can apply for parental leave until the child turns three. During the preparatory service the application goes through official channels and must be submitted in good time before the planned start. According to the FAQ of the Bezirksregierung Köln for North Rhine-Westphalia, at least four weeks before the start is the reference. The FAQ is dated March 2014, so check the deadline in your state early.
The start and end of parental leave follow rules too. In North Rhine-Westphalia they may not fall into the school holidays, and the end must be at least four weeks before the holidays begin or directly after them. This shows how strongly state rules shape your timetable.
If absences occur, the preparatory service can be extended. The guide Schwanger im Referendariat: Mutterschutz, Beihilfe und Prüfungstermine (in German) explains how this works.
How does a child affect Beihilfe and health insurance?
Family health cover depends on your status. As a civil servant on probation for trainees you are generally entitled to Beihilfe and need private insurance for the remaining costs. Beihilfe applies to dependants for whom you receive the family allowance. In Schleswig-Holstein, only the parent in whose family allowance the child is counted submits the receipts.
| State or rule | Beihilfe rate without a child | Beihilfe rate with a child |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate without a deviating state rule | 50 percent | Depends on the state regulation, please check |
| Hesse | 70 percent outpatient, 85 percent inpatient, regardless of marital status | Same rate, according to the leaflet regardless of marital status |
| Saxony | 50 percent | 70 percent with one child or more (secondary source, to be checked) |
If you are statutorily insured, children can be covered through family insurance. Children up to 18 are insured without further conditions, up to 25 while in school or vocational training. The details are set out in section 10 SGB V.
Frequently asked questions
Do I receive the family allowance automatically?
Report the child to your pay office as early as possible and ask about your entitlement. For North Rhine-Westphalia, the FAQ names the Landesamt für Besoldung und Versorgung (LBV) as responsible for pay and child benefit. Other states organise this differently.
Can I receive parental allowance during the Referendariat?
Parental allowance depends on your income before the birth and is set by federal law at a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 1,800 euros per month. How your trainee pay affects it is calculated by the parental allowance office. This guide cannot replace that calculation.
Is Beihilfe enough for my child?
Beihilfe applies to children for whom you receive the family allowance, and you submit the receipts under the rules of your Beihilfe office. The remaining costs are covered by your tariff, if it includes the child. Check whether your tariff includes the child and on which terms.
How long can I take parental leave?
According to the NRW FAQ, parental leave is possible until the child turns three. When exactly it starts and ends is set through official channels, in agreement with your office.
What to do now
- Report the birth to your pay office and ask about the family allowance and the office responsible for child benefit.
- Clarify the application route for parental allowance before you submit it.
- Apply for parental leave through official channels and in good time before it starts.
- Check Beihilfe and your private tariff for the child, ideally with the Beihilfe rate for families in mind.
- Clarify with the examination office how absences affect your training.
Related reading
- Studying with a child: money, benefits and insurance
- Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works
- Family Insurance Income Comparison: When It Ends
Sources: Federal Parental Allowance Act (BEEG) section 2, accessed October 2026, gesetze-im-internet.de. Income Tax Act (EStG) section 66, amount for 2026, gesetze-im-internet.de. Government draft of the income tax reform 2027, cabinet decision 2 September 2026, status October 2026, bundesregierung.de. Bezirksregierung Köln, FAQ on the Referendariat in North Rhine-Westphalia, status March 2014, bezreg-koeln.nrw.de. State government of Schleswig-Holstein, Beihilfe application procedure, last updated 9 December 2025, schleswig-holstein.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
